Modular jack connector system

ABSTRACT

Modular electrical jack connector system comprising at least one jack connector housing and at least one therein inserted jack connector subassembly wherein each jack connector housing comprises a front coupling side having at least two openings which openings are disposed one above the other to receive a variety of electrical plug connectors through the front coupling side and an oppositely disposed rear side for insertion of at least one jack connector subassembly wherein further each jack connector subassembly comprises a longitudinal strip-like carrier having a substantially right-angled profile and further on the upper side and on the lower side respectively a series of extrusion-coated or injection-molded jack terminals which at a front end of the strip-like carrier form uncoated, bent-back cantilevered contact portions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a modularly constructable jack connector systemfor the provision of a variety of jack connectors with a variety ofconnection jacks or ports and particularly for use in Ethernet networks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are known circuit connector arrangements having a variety ofconnection jacks within a common housing for the provision of abasically compact jack connector arrangement. In addition a specifiednumber of jacks in a vertically stacked and/or adjacently strungarrangement are conventionally provided within a common externalhousing, a so-called stacked jack arrangement. In general the jackconnectors comprise for this purpose a housing having plugconnector-receiving openings wherein are disposed electrical terminalcontacts for the production of a connection with a receivedcomplementary plug connector wherein the electrical terminal contactsare often inserted into the housing from one of the oppositely disposedsides with respect to one of the plug connector-receiving openings bymeans of modular jack sub-assemblies. Such jack connectors for exampleform modularly constructed jacks of the type RJ-45 or for example of thetype RJ-11 for the purpose of producing connections with correspondinglycomplementarily formed RJ-45 or RJ-11 plug connectors.

Such connecting systems are also common alongside telephone distributionnetworks for example in other computer or automation networks whereinare encompassed a variety of data transfer media including coaxialcables, fibre optic cables and telephone cables. Such a networktopography is known e.g. as an Ethernet network and is subject tovarious electrical standards such as for example IEEE 802.3 and others.Such networks must provide a high number of distributed connections andthe connecting systems may conventionally occupy only a small space dueto progressive miniaturisations in order to provide a variety ofdifferent connections.

Since such networks are further operated at high rates of one gigabyteand higher a further requirement is a significant conditioning of thesignals to be transferred. Shielding is therefore normally necessary inorder for example to provide a so-called Common Mode Rejection (CMR) andto guarantee a specified electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and/orresistance to electromagnetic disturbance. For the purpose ofconditioning the signals it is therefore further necessary toincorporate within the arrangement corresponding components such asparticularly magnet coils but also capacitive components in order tocorrespondingly condition the signals.

The printed publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,348 B1 discloses one suchgenre-forming modular jack connector arrangement having an externalshield housing around a jack connector housing wherein is insertable avariety of modular jack subassemblies. The modular jack subassembliesrespectively comprise in accordance with the printed publication alongitudinal strip-like carrier whose upper and lower sides receive avariety of adjacently strung jack terminals. In addition the strip-likecarrier is formed with channels on its upper and lower sides whichchannels are laterally delimited by ribs and wherein the jack terminalsare positioned. On a front end of the strip-like carrier are bent backrespective contact portions of the electrical jack terminals that aredisposed in the channels which contact portions are held in which slotsthat extend vertically from respectively the upper and lower sides andcommunicate with the channels.

The jack terminals extend with their respectively oppositely disposedend with respect to the contact portion into a laterally disposed withrespect to the strip-like carrier printed circuit board and therecorrespondingly form contact connections wherein above and below thesecontact connections of the printed circuit board and above and below thestrip-like carrier are received signal conditioning components. The jacksubassemblies are adjacently disposed in the jack connector housing andseparated from one another by shield plates. Above and below eachstrip-like carrier is defined a plug connector receptacle in the jackconnector housing in which plug connector receptacle the terminalcontacts are disposed above and below the strip-like carrier.

Substantial disadvantages herein are that due to the arrangement of theelectrical jack terminals in the channels that are formed between theribs and including the contact portions that are held in the slots theproduction both of the strip-like carrier as well as the jack terminalsbut also the assembly of the two components places maximum demands onaccuracy since otherwise an interlocking of the terminals and contactswithin the ribs and/or the slots will occur. However even in the case ofa high production quality and assembly accuracy a rubbing of theterminals and contact portions on the ribs and in the slots is notcompletely excluded and this can consequently lead to a prematurewearing including associated maintenance and/or repair costs. A furthersubstantial disadvantage of the modular jack connector arrangement inaccordance with the US publication is that the number of jack connectorsfor the provision of a variety of connection jacks by means of the useof a common jack connector housing is specified such that hereby only alimited possible variation of jack connectors is guaranteeable and/orfor different applications are to be provided respectively specific jackconnector housings which provision leads to a further cost increaseparticularly with respect to the production and storage.

An object of the invention consequently consists of providing a new andsubstantially improved modular jack connector structure with respect tothe prior art and particularly for use in the case of Ethernet networkswhereby can be provided fast and cost effectively and in a maximallyflexible manner a space-saving modular jack connector system comprisinga corresponding number of jack connectors and consequently connectionjacks or ports with respect to the respective specific requirements andwherein for the manufacture and the assembly a substantially simplifyingconstruction of a jack terminal retaining arrangement is guaranteed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object according to the invention is solved in an extremelysurprising manner by a subject comprising the features of an attachedindependent claim.

Beneficial and/or preferred embodiments and further embodiments are thesubject of the sub-claims.

In accordance with the invention a modular electrical jack connectorsystem is thereby provided which modular electrical jack connectorsystem comprises at least one jack connector housing and at least onetherein inserted jack connector subassembly wherein the jack connector,housing can be expediently strung together with at least one furtherjack connector housing and is connectable to said further jack connectorhousing wherein each jack connector housing comprises a front couplingside having at least two openings which openings are disposed one abovethe other for the purpose of receiving a variety of electrical plugconnectors through the front coupling side and an oppositely disposedwith respect to the front coupling side rear side for the purpose ofinserting at least one jack connector subassembly wherein further eachjack connector subassembly comprises a longitudinal strip-like carrierhaving a substantially right-angled profile and further on the upperside and on the lower side respectively a series of extrusion-coated orinjection-molded jack terminals which extrusion-coated jack terminals ata front end of the strip-like carrier form uncoated, bent-backcantilevered contact portions such that the bent-back series of contactportions of the inserted jack connector subassembly on one side isdisposed such that it is aligned in the upper opening and the bent-backseries of contact portions on the oppositely disposed side is disposedsuch that it is aligned in the lower opening.

The jack connector system according to the invention thereby guaranteesan extremely flexible substantially infinitely extendable number of jackconnectors by way of the space-saving modular stringing together of avariety of jack connector housings wherein moreover as a result of theextrusion-coated or injection-molded jack terminals and the completelyuncoated bent-back cantilevered contact portions the jack terminals arepermanently definably fixed and particularly with reference to thecontact portions and even in the case of only minimally retainedproduction tolerances an interlocking and/or a premature wearing due tofriction on guiding/fixing ribs or grooves is substantially completelyexcluded.

A particularly preferable embodiment provides that each jack connectorhousing is moulded out of a plastic material and is formed for thepurpose of receiving respectively one jack connector subassembly.

In accordance with a preferred further embodiment is further insertedbetween each individual adjacently strung jack connector housing ametallic shield as a result of which metallic shield no additionalinsulation of the shield is required thus leading to a further costsaving.

In accordance with a preferred further embodiment the strip-like carrieris constructed particularly for the purpose of flexible fabrication outof two respectively vertically disposable carrier halves wherein eachhalf comprises an extrusion-coated arrangement of jack terminals.

Preferably the extrusion-coating of the jack terminals forms a bump orknuckle-like thickening towards the uncoated area of the contactportions which bump or knuckle-like thickening defines an end stop forthe contact portions whereby is ensured in the case of each contact witha counter plug connector a permanent pre-stressing of the contactportions.

A shield plate is disposed sandwich-like between two carrier halves forthe purpose of further increasing the shield values and as a consequenceno further insulation is required since each series of jack terminals iscarried by a strip-like carrier half and is thereby already insulated bythe extrusion-coated plastic material.

In a further beneficial embodiment the strip-like carrier halves areidentically formed such that a cost-effective manufacture of the wholestrip-like carrier is guaranteed and wherein the strip-like carrierhalves comprise complementarily formed engaging devices for a simpleassembly of respectively two strip-like carrier halves to form onestrip-like carrier.

The jack connector subassembly is insertable in a jack connector housingand further comprises in a preferred embodiment correspondingly adaptedcomponents for the purpose of signal conditioning such as particularlymagnet coils which magnet coils are disposed in accordance with theapplication at least adjacently with respect to a top surface of thestrip-like carrier. Due to the extrusion-coated or injection-molded jackterminals and the preferable inserting of respectively one jackconnector subassembly into respectively one jack connector housing thereis substantially required no further insulation material for the jackconnector-subassembly or the signal conditioning components.

The jack connector subassembly is further preferably formed such that avariety of different conditioning components is modularly connectable tosaid jack connector subassembly and particularly compatible for thispurpose are box-like modules e.g. magnet boxes having four to twelvecoils.

A standard jack connector comprises in accordance with a preferableembodiment a jack connector jack connector subassembly having ten signalpins. For the provision of inline power supply the jack connectorsubassemblies according to the invention are further formed with twoadditional pins for 48 Volts per connection port.

The mechanical fixture and all jack connector subassembly encompassedparts and components and their interconnecting electric circuitry iscarried out by the jack connector subassembly preferably via twoseparated circuit boards and particularly printed circuit boards betweenwhich can be disposed particularly the strip-like carrier and thebox-like modules. Further electric/electronic components can be moreoverdisposed on the outside of the carrier plates wherein the carrier platesfor the purpose of electrical circuitry comprise corresponding contactarrangements such as particularly contacting openings for respectivecontact ends and/or pin ends.

In a further preferred embodiment is further provided the fitting of thejack connector subassembly with LED pins wherein further for a simpleassembly are expediently disposed on the carrier plates LED's whichLED's radiate at right-angles and whose light can be guided forward tothe front coupling side via wave-guides which wave-guides are attachedto the carrier plates. The wave-guides are further received inaccordance with a preferred further embodiment in the guiding channelsthat are formed in the jack connector housing.

Per jack connector subassembly there is hereby guaranteed in thesimplest manner at least up to eight additional LED functionalities andin other words four per connecting port.

In a particularly beneficial embodiment the variety of adjacently strungjack connector housings is disposed on at least one earth plate andparticularly a printed circuit board which circuit board comprisesopenings for the purpose of receiving signal pins that are guided out ofthe jack connector subassembly. In addition to the correspondingapplication-specific electrical connecting of the signal pins for thepurpose of connecting circuitry there is hereby brought about amechanical positioning of the signal pins and an additional shieldelement is provided. Depending on the dimensioning of the earth platethis simultaneously acts as a carrier for further electric/electroniccomponents. Should the earth plate comprise a sandwich-like multi-layerstructure there is provided in accordance with a beneficial furtherembodiment a capacitor effect particularly for the purpose of furtherimproved interference signal filtering.

The adjacently strung jack connector housings are moreover disposed forthe purpose of further improved shield in an external shield housingwhich external shield housing substantially fully encompasses the jackconnector housing and is preferably soldered to the earth plate for theprovision of a well-shielded system.

In a further preferred embodiment moreover each employed jack connectorsubassembly is soldered directly to the external shield such thatminimum transfer resistances are ensured which minimum transferresistances lead particularly to once more substantially improved EMCand/or CMR values.

The external shield is hereby preferably constructed in two-parts andcomprises a first portion which first portion is connectable from thefront coupling side of the jack connector housing to said jack connectorhousing and a second shield portion which second shield portion issolderable to said first shield portion and which is placeable from therear of the jack connector housing onto said jack connector housing.

In this case the external shield housing is prefabricated correspondingto the desired number of adjacently strung jack connector housings andis formed with a corresponding number of cutouts of the from the frontcoupling side attachable shield portion which cutouts are aligned withthe for the purpose of receiving plug connectors provided openings ofthe jack connector.

For the purpose of adjacently stringing the jack connector housings saidjack connector housings comprise complementarily formed attachingdevices wherein there can be provided that the concluding jack connectorhousings at either end of the string and in other words the first andthe last jack connector housings in the string are specifically formedfor the purpose of arrangement within the external shield. At least theintermediately strung and/or intermediately stringable jack connectorhousings are however identically structured in accordance with apreferred embodiment.

The invention is hereafter described in further detail on the basis ofpreferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In the drawings

FIG. 1 shows an exploded front perspective view from a raised angle ofvision of a jack connector system according to the invention in apartially assembled state,

FIG. 2 shows a horizontal mirror image of the jack connector systemaccording to the invention according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows the jack connector system according to the inventionaccording to FIG. 1 in an assembled state,

FIG. 4 shows a horizontal mirror image of the jack connector systemaccording to the invention according to FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows an exploded front perspective view from a raised angle ofvision of a first embodiment of a jack connector subassembly of the jackconnector system according to the invention according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 shows the jack connector subassembly according to FIG. 5 in a180° rotation around the longitudinal axis of the subassembly,

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a strip-like jack terminals carrierof the subassembly according to FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 shows an exploded front perspective view from a raised angle ofvision of a jack connector housing and a second embodiment of a jackconnector subassembly according to the invention with additionalLED-functionality in an un-assembled state,

FIG. 9 shows a view rotated with respect to the view according to FIG. 8by 180° around a vertical transverse axis of the subassembly and

FIG. 10 shows a view of the jack connector housing and the jackconnector subassembly according to FIG. 8, however with jack connectorsubassembly inserted into the jack connector housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED HOWEVER ONLY EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made first to the FIGS. 1 to 4 wherein is shown inperspective view a modular jack connector system according to theinvention for use in the case of Ethernet networks in un-assembled andin assembled states from respectively two different and with respect tothe horizontal. substantially mirrored angles of vision.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a number of six, four centrally and two externallyadjacently stringable moulded jack connector housings 100, 101 and 102made of a plastic material. The jack connector housings 100, 101 and 102respectively comprise a front coupling side having two verticallydisposed plug connector-receiving openings 110 and 111. The oppositelydisposed with respect to the front coupling side rear side 112 of thejack connector housing 100, 101 and 102 forms a substantially fully openside through which as separately described below a jackconnector-subassembly 200 is insertable into a respective jack connectorhousing 100, 101 and 102.

The jack connector housings 100, 101 and 102 each comprise on theiroppositely disposed lateral side surfaces 113 and 114 an engaging device115 and/or 116 for the purpose of lateral stringing which engagingdevices 115 and/or 116 are developed complementarily with respect to oneanother. For the purpose of laterally stringing the jack connectorhousings 100, 101 and 102 is formed an on the lateral side 114 of eachjack connector housing an engaging device 116 which engaging device 116thereby operates with the engaging device 115 which engaging device 115is formed on the oppositely disposed side 113 of an adjacently disposedjack connector housing.

Expediently moreover are formed grooves 117 on substantially one of eachlateral side and in the present example on the side 113 of the jackconnector housings 100 and 101 and at their upper and lower ends whichgrooves 117 extend between the front coupling side and the rear jackconnector housing side 112 and wherein further a vertically alignedmetallic shield plate 500 in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 is insertableand is correspondingly disposable between the respective individual jackconnector housings 100, 101 and 102.

Since the respective modularly stringable jack connector housings 100,101 and 102 are made of an insulating material no separate insulation isnecessary for the shield plate 500.

The respectively concluding jack connector housings 101 and 102 in thestring of jack connector housings 100, 101 and 102 are disposed at thestart or the end of the string and said concluding jack connectorhousings 101 and 102 moreover comprise in the case of the presentexemplified embodiment on their in the assembled state respectivelyoutwardly facing sides assembly ribs 118 in order to guarantee asimplified inserting of the jack connector housings 100, 101 and 102into a common external metallic shield 300 and to therein retain thejack connector housings 100, 101 and 102 that are inserted in theexternal shield 300 by means of mechanical pre-stressing. Moreover thetwo external jack connector housings 101 and 102 comprise fixing pins119 in order to mount the fully assembled modular jack connector systemonto a not illustrated fixture. By means of the modular adjacentstringing of the individual jack connector housings 100, 101, 102 isparticularly guaranteed a large variation potential with reference tothe number of the individual jack connectors or connection jacks and/orports to be provided with the modular jack connecting systems within acommon external shield housing 300 such that in the case of the presentembodiment respectively only the external shield 300 is to be formed inaccordance with the desired number of jack connector housings 100, 101and 102 to be received. The illustrated embodiment comprises fourcentral jack connector housings 100 and two external jack connectorhousings 101 and 102 and its external shield 300 comprises one of thenumber of twelve of the overall by the jack connector housings 100, 101and 102 defined upper and lower plug connector-receiving openings 110and 111 to which number of plug connector-receiving openings 110 and 111corresponds the number of twelve cutouts 301 to 312 that are alignedwith openings 110 and 111 such that, as can be seen particularly in thecase of FIG. 3 wherein is illustrated the modular jack connector systemin the mounted state, there is provided a total of twelve connectionjacks or ports within the common external shield housing 300 whichshield housing 300 comprises a front portion 310 and a rear portion 320.On the cutouts 301 to 312 are moreover provided inwardly curved into theconnection jacks pre-stressed shield tabs 314 (FIG. 2, 3) for the plugconnectors to be inserted.

The modular jack connector system according to the invention comprisesin the case of the present embodiment moreover an earth plate 400particularly in the form of a printed circuit board whereon the jackconnector housing 100, 101 and 102 is disposed such that out of theinserted jack connector subassemblies 200 in accordance with the FIGS. 1and 2 are guided outwardly extending signal pins in a vertical directionthrough correspondingly disposed through holes 410 in the earth plate400 for an application-specific circuit connection. Moreover there ishereby guaranteed an additional mechanical positioning of the pins 220in the mounted state of the modular jack connector system.

Each of the vertically between two jack connector housings 100, 101 and102 insertable shield plates 500 comprises a thereon-formed pin-likeprojection 510 which pin-like projection 510 is simultaneouslyinsertable in an opening 405 of the earth plate 400 which opening 405 ofthe earth plate 400 is provided for this purpose and is solderable tosaid earth plate in a preferred embodiment for improved shielding. Theearth plate 400 thereby provides an additional shield element whereinthe through openings 410 for the purpose of receiving the signal pins220 are insulated from their surroundings apart from any stripconductors for the purpose of electrically connecting individualspecific signal paths which strip conductors are not more closelyillustrated.

In the case of the present embodiment the external shield 300 isstructured in two portions and comprises a front portion 310 which frontportion 310 is placeable from the front coupling side of the jackconnector housing onto said jack connector housing and which frontportion 310 comprises the cutouts 301 to 312 and further a rear portion320 which rear portion 320 is connectable from the rear side of the jackconnector housings 100, 101, 102 to the front portion 310. The frontportion 310 and the rear portion 320 of the external shield 300 areformed in an overlapping area which overlapping area is provided for thepurpose of assembly and which is formed with predefined projecting areas319 and/or complementary cutout areas 322 by means of which projectingareas 319 and/or complementary cutout areas 322 the front portion 310and the rear portion 320 are soldered together after assembly.

Moreover the earth plate 400 after assembly of the modular jackconnector system is soldered to the external shield housing 300 whereonare formed in addition in the case of the illustrated embodiment on therear external shield housing portion 320 corresponding soldering tabs321 such that there is provided overall a very good outward shield.

Attention should be directed to the fact that the earth plate 400 canalso project in accordance with its application beyond the externaldimensions of the external shield 300 such that said earth plate 400 isalso useable for example as a carrier for additionalelectrical/electronic components. Should the earth plate 400 moreover beproduced as a compensation circuit board with a composite structurethere is hereby achieved in addition a capacitor effect for the purposeof further improved interference filtering.

The rearward housing portion 320 of the external shield 300 moreovercomprises for each received jack connector subassembly 200 a slightlyinwardly curved pre-stressed soldering tab 325 whereby in a simplemanner a direct soldering to a respective jack connector subassembly 200encompassed metallic shield plate 270 (FIG. 9) can be brought about. Byway of a thus brought-about direct earthing of the jack connectorsubassembly 200 are ensured minimum transfer resistances for a furtherimprovement particularly of the EMC and CMR values.

Reference is hereafter made particularly to the FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 whereinare illustrated in further detail substantial components of a jackconnector-subassembly 200 according to the invention.

The illustrated jack connector-subassembly 200 according to theinvention comprises two separated and aligned in parallel with respectto one another lateral carrier plates 210 which lateral carrier plates210 comprise strip conductors for the purpose of electrically connectingindividual specific signal paths which strip connectors are notdescribed in further detail and signal conditioning components.

Between the two carrier plates 210 there extends in a vertical planewith respect to the planes of the carrier plates 210 a longitudinalstrip-like carrier 250 made of a plastic material which longitudinalstrip-like carrier 250 as described hereafter in further detail carriestwo rows of jack terminals 260 whereof respectively jack terminalcontact portions 265 and 266 are correspondingly aligned in a mountedstate in the plug connector-receiving openings 110 and 111 of a jackconnector housing 100, 101 and 102 for the purpose of the contacting ofterminal contacts of an inserted plug connector.

Above and/or below the strip-like carrier 250 is defined a space bymeans of the separated lateral plates 210 wherein are receivablebox-like module inserts 280, 281 and particularly magnet box modules 280for the purpose of rectifying the signals. According to the applicationthere is provided that these magnet box modules 280 are prefabricatedand comprise for example 2, 4, 8 or 12 coil cores.

In substance all signal pins 220 that are guided out of a jack connectorsubassembly 200 for the presently mentioned further circuit connectionare substantially right-angled and extend respectively from a short pinend 221 which short pin end 221 is suitably connected via a respectiveconnection through-hole of a carrier plate 210 to said carrier plate 210for the purpose of electrical connection.

As can be particularly seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 on the respective outersides of the carrier plates 210 are disposed a variety of furtherspecifically wired electrical/electronic components 255. In the FIGS. 5and 6 the pins that are guided out of the module insert 231 of the jackconnector subassembly 200 moreover serve for the purpose of providing aninline power supply wherefore are provided per connection jack and/orport two pins for 48 volts as well as for the equipping of the jackconnector subassembly 200 with an LED functionality for the purpose ofthe visual display of connection integrities.

The front portion 310 and the rear portion 320 of the external shield300 are developed within an overlapping area with predefined projectingareas 319 and/or complementary cutout areas 322 which overlapping areais provided for the purpose of assembly.

The longitudinal strip-like carrier 250 is preferably constructed out oftwo identical carrier halves 251 and 252. Between stacked assemblysurfaces of the two carrier halves 251 and 252 there is disposed andheld sandwich-like a metallic shield plate 270. On each carrier half 251and/or 252 there are formed respectively complementarily with respect toone another engaging devices 253 a, 254 a and 253 b, 254 b on twooppositely disposed lateral carrier sides which engaging devices 253 a,254 a and 253 b, 254 b cooperate by placing the assembly surfaces of thecarrier halves 251 and 252 on top of one another whereby is simplycreated an expediently releasable engaging and fixing of the stackedcarrier halves 251 and 252.

Moreover each plastic material carrier half 251 and 252 carries a seriesof jack terminals 260 which jack terminals 260 are connected by way ofextrusion-coating to the carrier half 251 and/or 252 and in the case ofthe illustrated embodiment of eight jack terminals. The extrusion-coatedor injection-molded jack terminals 260 at their respective rear terminalends 263 for the purpose of reception in one of the carrier plates 210are guided laterally out of the carrier half 251 and/or 252 and embodyup to their front jack terminal contact portions 265 and 266 an uncoatedradius area 264. The front jack terminal contact portions 265 and 266are similarly uncoated and are bent back over the radius area 264.

In the assembled and/or disassembled state of the two carrier halves 251and 252 there hereby extend from the upper and from the lower sides ofthe strip-like carrier 250 respectively the bent-back contact portions265 and/or 266 in a cantilevered manner. In the inserted state of a jackconnector-subassembly in a jack connector housing 100, 101, 102 theseries of contact portions 265 is hereby received and aligned in theupper plug connector receiving opening 110 of the jack connector housingin accordance with FIG. 1 and the inversely extending series of contactportions 266 is received and aligned in the plug connector-receivinglower opening 111 of the jack connector housing (FIG. 3).

The extrusion-coating of the jack terminals 260 at the front exit areaof one respective carrier half 251 and/or 252 up to the radius area 264moreover forms a type of bump or knuckle 269 whose height diminishes inthe direction of the radius area 264 preferably while forming a radius.The bump or knuckle 269 thereby provides a stop for the contact portions265 and/or 266 which contact portions 265 and/or 266 are bent back overthe radius area 264 over the knuckle 269 in the inserted state in theevent that said contact portions 265 and/or 266 are compressed in theevent of a plug connector being inserted through the plugconnector-receiving openings 110 and 111 in the direction of the knuckle269 and thereby ensures a permanent pre-stressing of the contactportions 265 and/or 266.

On the carrier halves 251 and 252 are moreover formed fixing devicesand/or fixing clips 268 in order to thereby fix the modularly insertablebox inserts 280, 281 disposed between the lateral carrier plates 210.

The metallic shield plates 270 are held sandwich-like between the twocarrier halves 251 and 252 and require no additional insulation due tothe extrusion-coated or injection-molded jack terminals. The shieldplate 270 comprises a rear soldering area 271 for the purpose ofsoldering to the outside rear of the shield housing portion 320 asdescribed above as well as two laterally curved tabs 272 which laterallycurved tabs 272 are connected to the two carrier plates 210 for thepurpose of earthing.

The jack connector subassembly 200 illustrated in the FIGS. 8 to 10 isequipped with the aforesaid LED-functionality and comprises for thispurpose on each carrier plate 210 electrically actuated LED's 290 whichelectrically actuated LED's 290 in the case of the use of right-angularradiating LEDs are easily integrateable into the carrier plate such thatthe right-angular radiated light is guided forwards via the wave-guide291 that is fastened to the carrier plates 210, i.e. towards the jackconnector subassembly 200 receiving jack connector housing 101. The jackconnector housings 100, 101 and 102 are expediently additionally formedfor the purpose of receiving such wave-guides 291 with correspondinglyaligned guide channels 180 in order to guide the radiated light visiblyforward via the opening towards the plug connector-receiving openings110 and 111 which plug connector-receiving openings 110 and 111 aredefined by the wave-guide 291.

There is hereby provided that on each carrier plate 210 up to four LED'sare connectable, i.e. respectively inside and outside at the upper andlower jack connector housing facing ends of a carrier plate 210. In thecase of the illustrated embodiment the wave-guides 291 respectivelycomprise for two adjacently, i.e. internally and externally, disposedLED's 290 a common external sheathing. In the mounted state thereby foreach connection port or connection jacks (FIG. 10) a maximum of fourLED-functions are displayable.

The modular jack connector system according to the invention therebyguarantees due to the variety of modularly assemblable and expandableindividual components the various fast and simple construction of avariety of different jack connectors in a space-saving and maximallyoutwardly shielded arrangement wherein particularly due to the extrusioncoating-retained jack contacts and the respectively insulated jackconnector housing modules additional insulation with respect to earthfor intermediately located metallic shield devices is not necessary andconsequently leads to a further cost saving.

Attention should be drawn to the fact that for an expert in the artelectrically shielded jack connectors can suggest numerousapplication-specific modifications without abandoning the scope definedby the attached claims. In particular the application area is notlimited to Ethernet-networks and the modularly constructed jackconnectors of the jack connector system according to the invention canalso provide different types of connecting ports within a jack connectorsystem according to the invention.

REFERENCE LIST

-   100,101, 102 Jack connector housing-   110, 111 Plug connector-receiving openings-   112 Rear jack connector housing side-   113,114 Lateral jack connector housing sides-   115,116 Engaging devices-   117 Grooves-   118 Assembly ribs-   119 Fastening pins-   180 Guiding channels-   200 Jack connector subassembly-   210 Lateral carrier plates-   220 Signal pins-   221 Signal pin end-   250 Jack terminal carrier-   251 Upper jack terminal carrier half-   252 Lower jack terminal carrier half-   253 a, 253 b Engaging means-   254 a,254 b Engaging means-   255 Electric/electronic components-   260 Jack terminals-   263 Jack terminal end-   264 Radius area-   265 Upper series of jack terminal contact portions-   266 Lower series of jack terminal contact portions-   268 Fixture arrangement-   269 bump or knuckle-   270 Horizontal shield plate-   272 Soldering portion-   272 Connecting tabs-   280 Magnet box module-   281 Box module-   290 LED-   291 Wave-guide-   300 External shield housing-   301-312 Plug connector passages-   314 Shield tabs-   315 Shield housing front portion-   316 Projecting area-   320 Shield housing-rear portion-   321 Connecting tabs-   322 Cutout area-   325 Soldering lug-   400 Earth plate-   405 Soldering through hole-   410 Signal pin through holes-   500 Vertical shield plates-   510 Soldering pin

1. A modular electrical jack connector system comprising: i) a firstinside jack connector housing having a first side and a second side thatface opposite to each other, ii) a first outside jack connector housinginterconnected with the first inside jack connector housing at the firstside, and iii) a second outside jack connector housing interconnectedwith the first inside jack connector housing at the second side; and ajack connector-subassembly inserted into each of the jack connectorhousing; wherein the jack connector housings are configured as anassembly of modular adjacent connector housings that are arranged in arow; and wherein each of the jack connector housings comprises i) afront coupling side having at least two openings which openings aredisposed one above the other for the purpose of receiving a plurality ofelectrical plug connectors through the front coupling side and ii) arear side for the purpose of inserting the jack connector subassembly,the rear side being oppositely disposed with respect to the frontcoupling side; and wherein each jack connector subassembly comprises alongitudinal strip-like carrier having a substantially right-angledprofile and having on the top and on the bottom respectively a series ofextrusion-coated or injection-molded jack terminals, wherein theextrusion-coated or injection-molded jack terminals embody at a frontend of the strip-like carrier uncoated and bent-back cantileveredcontact portions, and wherein the uncoated and bent-back cantileveredcontact portions are disposed aligned in an upper opening and/or into alower opening of the jack connector housing.
 2. The modular electricaljack connector system of claim 1 wherein each jack connector housing isformed out of a plastic material and is adapted for the purpose ofreceiving one jack connector subassembly.
 3. The modular electrical jackconnector system of claim 1 wherein respectively one metallic shield isinserted between individual adjacently strung jack connector housings.4. The modular electrical jack connector system of claim 1 wherein thestrip-like carrier is modularly constructed out of two stackable carrierhalves wherein each half comprises an extrusion-coated orinjection-molded arrangement of jack terminals.
 5. The modularelectrical jack connector system of claim 4 wherein a metallic shieldplate is disposed sandwich-like between two carrier halves.
 6. Themodular electrical jack connector system of claim 1 wherein theextrusion-coating of the jack connectors up to the uncoated area of thecontact portions forms a bump or knuckle-like thickening.
 7. The modularelectrical jack connector system of claim 1 wherein the strip-likecarrier is modularly constructed out of two stackable identical carrierhalves and wherein each carrier half respectively comprises acomplementarily formed engaging device.
 8. The modular electrical jackconnector system of claim 1 wherein for the purpose of signalconditioning the jack connector subassembly comprises correspondinglyadapted component modules which correspondingly adapted componentmodules are disposed at least adjacently with respect to a top surfaceof the strip-like carrier.
 9. The modular electrical jack connectorsystem of claim 1 wherein a plurality of different conditioningcomponent modules is connectable with the jack connector subassembly.10. The modular electrical jack connector system of claim 1 wherein thejack connector subassembly comprises a plurality of signal pins whichsignal pins extend outwards on one side.
 11. The modular electrical jackconnector system of claim 1 wherein the jack connector subassemblycomprises pins for an inline power supply.
 12. The modular electricaljack connector system of claim 1 wherein the jack connector subassemblycomprises two separated carrier plates and particularly printed circuitboards for the purpose of mechanically holding together the componentsand their electrical circuitry encompassed by the jack connectorsubassembly.
 13. The modular electrical jack connector system of claim12, wherein between the carrier plates is disposed the strip-likecarrier.
 14. The modular electrical jack connector system of claim 12wherein is disposed between the carrier plates at least oneelectrical/electronic components encompassing box-type module.
 15. Themodular electrical jack connector system of claim 12 wherein on theoutside of the carrier plates are disposed electrical/electroniccomponents.
 16. The modular electrical jack connector system of claim 1wherein the jack connector subassembly is equipped with LED pins. 17.The modular electrical jack connector system of claim 16 wherein thejack connector subassembly comprises at least one right-angularlyradiating LED whose light is forwardly and outwardly guidable via awave-guide to the front coupling side.
 18. The modular electrical jackconnector system of claim 17 wherein each of the jack connector housingsis formed with guiding channels for the purpose of receiving thewave-guide.
 19. The modular electrical jack connector system of claim 1wherein the jack connector housings are disposed on at least one earthplate and particularly a printed circuit board which printed circuitboard comprises openings for the purpose of receiving guided signal pinsof the jack connector subassembly.
 20. The modular electrical jackconnector system of claim 19 wherein the earth plate simultaneouslycarries further electrical/electronic components.
 21. The modularelectrical jack connector system of claim 19 wherein the earth platecomprises a sandwich-like multi-layered composite structure.
 22. Themodular electrical jack connector system of claim 1 wherein the jackconnector housings are encompassed by an external shield housing. 23.The modular electrical jack connector system of claim 22 wherein eachinserted jack connector-subassembly is directly soldered to the externalshield housing.
 24. The modular electrical jack connector system ofclaim 22 wherein the external shield housing is constructed in twoportions wherein the first portion is attachable to the jack connectorhousings from the front coupling side of the jack connector housings andwherein the second shield portion is solderable to the first portion andis attachable to the jack connector housings from the rear side of thejack connector housings.
 25. The modular electrical jack connectorsystem of claim 1 wherein for the purpose of arranging the jackconnector housings adjacently, the jack connector housings compriserespectively complementarily developed fastening devices.
 26. Themodular electrical jack connector system of claim 1 wherein at leastintermediately strung and/or stringable jack connector housings areidentically constructed.
 27. A jack connector housing for a modularelectrical jack connector system, the jack connector housing comprising:a first side and a second side that face opposite to each other, whereinthe first side and the second side are adapted to interconnect with afirst additional jack connector housing and a second additional jackconnector housing, respectively; a front coupling side having at leasttwo openings which openings are disposed one above the other for thepurpose of receiving a plurality of electrical plug connectors throughto the front coupling side; and a rear side for the purpose of insertinga jack connector subassembly, the rear side being oppositely disposedwith respect to the front coupling side; wherein the jack connectorhousing is modularly arrangeable in a row with and adjacent to at leastthe first additional jack connector housing.